Hi guys. I hope you're doing well.

This week was eventful. First, the inauguration of much awaited Ram Mandir on 22nd January 2024 and India's Republic Day on 26th January.

I'll come to it in a bit. But first I wanna mention about the movie released on this Friday, Fighter, starring Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone.

https://youtu.be/6amIq_mP4xM

As always I haven't the movie yet. But I'm glad that Hrithik's patriotic movie has a good box-office run. 'Coz the last time when Hrithik Roshan did a movie about Indian Army, it tanked at the box-office. The movie named Lakshya, based on Kargil War. Here's the trailer.

https://youtu.be/YoKGmYyljmc

And now here's the song from this movie, that was relatable to 8-year-old me.

https://youtu.be/gWn4Csu3Kc8

This song is still relatable to this day. In this song, the protagonist is saying, "Why am I like this? Why am I clueless about life? Maybe I'll stay like this (maybe I'm doomed for the rest of my life).

At the time of its release Lakshya was a huge flop at the box-office. But it inspired many young people like me to join the military. Unfortunately, I gave up on joining the army. But my peers didn't. And I'm proud of them.

Speaking of peers, this week I got a dm from a university friend, whom I thought  has forgotten me. But actually, he's phone got some issue, so he couldn't contact me early. I'm glad that he remembered me.

Another friend, or should I say "couple", they posted their flight tickets on WhatsApp story. I felt a bit off tho. I'm happy for them, but c'mon I've never been on a plane ever🥺

Anyways, my YT shorts is now filled with clips of Kdrama "Marry My Husband", inspired from webtoon by the same name. It's a story Kang Jiwon, about to die b'coz of cancer, finds out that her husband & best friend both are responsible for her ill fate. She confronts them, but gets fatally injured by husband & dies. And here comes the twist. She reincarnates back to 10 years. In a way she gets a second chance. So, this time she decides instead of her, she'll make sure her best friend & ex end up together. To know more, I recommend to read the webtoon, it's filled with awesome moments aka ফাটাকেষ্ট মোমেন্টস (my made-up term).

Now, let's talk about Republic Day celebration in my town.

I was expecting loud music, specifically patriotic ones from the loud speaker, like every other year on this Friday.

This year... it was 1000x worse. I couldn't barely hear any patriotic songs. The local "Ram Mandir Committee" had organised a "feast". Their jingoistic approach frightened me, even more gave me a headache. Their jingoism is similar to the extremism of other religions.

I guess these people have successfully made India a "Hindu Rastra" aka "Hindu Country". It may look good on paper or sound good to some people, categorising countries based on religion. Heck, I also thought as a kid that if there are "Muslim Countries", then what's wrong with making a "Hindu Country"?

When I was a kid, I saw people asking, talking about other people's religion, be it their colleague or any influential person. Back then I was interested in Actors, and so I used to ask my cousin about actors, including their religion.

Well, in defence of my younger-self, I was asking about religion 'coz I wanna know about their roots, what kind of belief system they have etc. In short, I was, in a way, exploring the world.

And now as an adult, I don't want a Hindu Rastra, which doesn't allow free speech, free mind, free thoughts; which only knows to enforce one way of thinking & crushing others. I don't want a Hindu Rastra made of Hindutva because I was born & raised in a "Hindu Rastra" made of Hinduism, that allowed every religion to breathe under its shade.

I'm not saying that the India I saw growing up was perfect. It had its injustice, it saw r!ots, r*pe, pr0tests, assass!nation, mu**er, & decline in Humanity. But I also saw people celebrating, rejoicing together, as well as helping, crying together, despite of each others faith.

I hope people of India doesn't forget the saying, "United we stand. Divided we fall." And this Indian Song, "Mile sur mera tumhara, Toh sur bane humara."

Jai Hind.

Take care.

Bye.